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January 25, 2004

Pressure And Other Sunday Notes. Tim Kurkjian says no player will be under more pressure in 2004 than Curt Schilling. His response? "Pressure? Sure there is. The Red Sox made this trade to help bring them a World Series title, nothing less. I'm ok with that ... During the negotiations with Theo and Jed ... I pointed to the World Series trophy on my mantle and said 'You're bringing me to Boston to win one of those, more than one, and to beat the Yankees on the way there. ...' So yes, there is a ton of pressure on me to have a great season, but that pressure from you, from the media, is immeasurably smaller than the pressure I put on myself to do those very things. I love it, I welcome it, most players do, it's what you play for."

The Red Sox signed infielder Tony Womack to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. In Game 7 of the 2001 World Series, Womack drilled a game-tying double in the bottom of the 9th inning off Mariano Rivera, just before Luis Gonzalez's heroics. ... Ugueth Urbina was arrested on Friday for allegedly firing gunshots into the air in Caracas; police said Urbina and a friend were intoxicated. ... Mo Vaughn will likely not play major league baseball again, but he avoided declaring himself retired, since he's guaranteed $15 million this season by the Mets. With 31 bone spurs in his left knee, he would need knee replacement surgery to play again. ... A Yankees fan compares Foulke and Rivera. ... Aaron Gleeman imagines Ted Williams's lost years. ... Pete Rose signing books at Foxwoods Casino? Real smart move.

Rich Lederer looks at how often Lefty Grove faced the Yankees and includes a few lists that also show how off-the-charts dominant Pedro Martinez has been.